Nationals announce 2015 Minor League staff

  The Washington Nationals today named their Minor League managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2015 season. Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development and Pro Scouting Doug Harris and Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement.

The Nationals promoted Paul Menhart to Minor League Pitching Coordinator and named Spin Williams a Senior Advisor for Player Development. Menhart embarks on his 10^th season in the Nationals' Minor League system. He spent the 2014 season as the pitching coach for Triple-A Syracuse. During his tenure with the Nationals, Menhart has overseen the development of many of Washington's top pitching prospects. Additionally, Michael Barrett will take an increased role as Catching Coordinator, working with the catchers across all levels of Washington's system. He will also continue to serve as the Manager of the Gulf Coast League Nationals.

Washington is happy to welcome Bob Milacki and Tommy Shields to the organization. Milacki will serve as Pitching Coach for Triple-A Syracuse while Shields joins the organization as a Co-field Coordinator. Milacki comes to the Nationals after spending six seasons (2009-14) in the Philadelphia chain. Prior to joining the Phillies, he spent eight years as a pitching coach in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization (2001-08). Milacki Appeared in 143 games, going 39-47 with a 4.38 ERA over parts of eight seasons in the Major Leagues with Baltimore (1988-92), Cleveland (1993), Kansas City (1994) and Seattle (1996). He was selected in the second round of the 1983 MLB Draft by Baltimore.

Shields, a native of Fairfax, VA, comes to the Nationals after spending three seasons as the manager of the Burlington Royals in the Kansas City Royals' chain, earning Appalachian League Manager of the Year honors in 2012. Shields joined the Royals after spending six years as the Atlanta Braves' minor league infield coordinator (2006-11) and from 2007-10, he served dual roles as the field and infield coordinator. He played parts of eight Minor League seasons in the Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Chicago Cubs' organizations. A left-handed-hitting infielder, Shields made his Major League debut in 1992 with the Baltimore Orioles but earned his first MLB plate appearance with the Cubs in 1993.

Washington also welcomes Rick Ankiel back to the organization, serving as the Life Skills Coordinator. Ankiel retired in 2013 after playing parts of 11 Major League seasons with six different clubs, including the Nationals (2011-12). He will draw on his vast experience as a player to help mentor Nationals farmhands. The Nationals have also added Jerad Head, who will serve as a coach during Extended Spring Training and the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League Nationals. He played eight seasons in the Minor Leagues, including the 2013 season with in the Nationals' chain. Head appeared in 10 games for the Cleveland Indians in 2011 and collected his first MLB hit in his big league debut, August 28 vs. Kansas City.